Judges Announced for National IEA Finals

Columbus, OH – April 14, 2017 – From IEA Press Release: Following the Hunt Seat National Finals on June 30 through July 2 in Oklahoma City, OK, will be the 2017 IEA Western National Finals at Oklahoma State Fair Park. Nearly 200 of the nation’s leading middle school and high school western equestrians will have their chance to compete in team and individual competitions in western horsemanship and reining.

Judging the IEA Western Nationals will be Chele McGauly from Elm Grove, Louisiana and Gretchen Mathes from Harwinton, Connecticut. McGauly is the owner/operator of Three Rivers Performance Horses in Elm Grove, LA and has been a professional horse trainer for over 35 years. She has shown horses to numerous wins at all levels and has successfully coached students at many levels as well. McGauly holds judge’s cards with the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association and The National Snaffle Bit Association. She has judged all over the world including AQHA World Championships, Youth World Championships, NRHA Futurity, Australian Nationals, European Nationals and the NRCHA Derby.

Gretchen Mathes will join McGauly in Oklahoma City. Mathes is the owner and manager of Powder Brook Farm, a large training facility located in Harwinton, Connecticut. She has been training, showing and raising Champion Quarter Horses at Powder Brook for 46 years. Mathes has coached World and Congress Champions in both Youth and Amateur classes. Mathes holds judge’s cards with AQHA, NRHA, NSBA, WCHA and has judged at every major show in the country. In 2007, she was named AQHA Horsewoman of the Year by the Professional Horseman’s Committee. Mathes also serves on the Nominations and Credential Committee for AQHA and as the AQHA Director from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and is President of CQHA.

“These four judges bring an admirable level of expertise to the IEA Finals”, says IEA Executive Director, Roxane Durant. “Our riders will appreciate what an honor it is to show in front of them.”

The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests or questions.